Method of filling hollow bodies, especially the cavities of human teeth, with metallic filling substances



Sept. 23, 1924. 1,509,161

J. MAURER METHOD OF FILLING HOLLOW BODIES, ESPECIALLY THE CAVITIES OFHUMAN TEETH, WITH METALLIC FILLING SUBSTANCES Filed July 18, 1922Inventdr:

6 /1 6. Run-if? Patented Sept. 23, 1924.

JACOB MAURER, OF KONS'IANZ, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO REINIGER, GEBBERT &SGHALL AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, OF ERLANGEN, BAVARIA, GERMANY.

METHOD OF FILLING HOLLOW BODIES, ESPECIALLY THE CAVITIES OF HUMAN TEETH,WITH METALLIC FILLING SUBSTANCES.

Application filed July 18, 1922. Serial No. 575,818.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JACOB MAUBER, a citizenof the Swiss Republic, and a resident of Konstanz, Germany, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of FillingHollow Bodies, Especially the Cavities of Human Teeth, with MetallicFilling Substances, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a method of filling hollow bodies, especiallythe cavities of human teeth, with metallic filling substances. Thepurpose of the invention is to bring into use a cheaper and less painfulmethod, as 1 has been employed hitherto. It has been proposed already,to fuse the dental fillings,

consisting of cement or the like, by means of an electrically heatedplatinum loop. In-

stead of employing this method, I fill the tooth cavity with very finelydivided metal, such as metallic powder, metallic sponge or metallicfoil. Into this dental filling I introduce two electrodes, connected toa circuit, which is intermittently energized for the purpose ofsupplying short current jerks to the electrodes. These current jerks aretransmitted to the metallic filling and accordingly at the alternatingswitching-in and switching-ofi of the current small sparks or light-arcsare formed between the individual metallic particles of the fillingsubstance. By means of said sparks or lightarcs in common with thecurrent transmission resistances between the individual metallicparticles a sintering and thorough welding of the metallic filling intoa homogeneous metallic mass is effected.

In the present method by the appliance of the short current erks onlysuch a degree of heat is produced within the metallic mass, as isnecessary for the thorough welding of the individual metallic particlesand further it is avoided by the present method to injure the treatedtooth by the influence of the heat or to cause a painful effect to thepatient.

My invention is carried into practice in the manner disclosed in theaccompanying drawing which shows a vertical section through a part of abody D having at its top a cavity C. The figure is drawn on a greatlyenlarged scale. The cavity 0 contains the filling material which has, inthe instance shown, the form of granules; it is, in fact, a coarsepowder. A are the electrodes which extend down between the granules orthe pulverulent particles, the current then flowing from granule togranule and forming sparks at the places of contact, as well as in thevery small spaces between the granules, as described in the first partof the specification.

Having thus described the nature of my invention, what I claim as newand desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. The method of filling, with the aid of electricity, small cavities ofhollow bodies. especially of human teeth, with a metal intended toremain constantly in the respective cavity, said method consisting inintroducing into the respective cavity an appropriate amount of asuitable metal which is so disintegrated that sparks can arise betweenthe particles thereof when an electric current is caused to passtherethrough, and causing an electric current to pass intermittentlythrough said metallic filling so as to cause the particles forming it tosinter and get welded to one another by said sparks, substantially asdescribed.

2. The method of filling, with the aid of electricity, small cavities ofhollow bodies, especially of human teeth, with a metal intended toremain constantly in the respective cavity, said method consisting inintroducing into the respective cavity an appro priate amount of asuitable metal which is so disintegrated that sparks can arise betweenthe particles thereof when an electric current is caused to passtherethrough, introducing two suitably spaced electrodes withneedle-like ends into said metallic filling, and causing an electriccurrent to pass intermittently from one of said electrodes to the otherso as to cause the particles forming the said filling to sinter and getwelded to one another by said sparks, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. JACOB MAURER. Witnesses:

H. R. JAKOBSEN,

ARTHUR SOHROEDER.

